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Meet The Team: Dr Maryam Omari, Edith Cowan University

The Edith Cowan MBA benefits from Western Australia's low unemployment and Mediterranean climate. Read on for some unexpected facts about the programme!

Wed Jul 18 2012

BusinessBecause
We quizzed Professor Maryam Omari, Program Director of MBA and Postgraduate Studies at Edith Cowan University (ECU) on living and studying in Western Australia.

ECU’s MBA mantra is to equip students with the contemporary management knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a modern, global business environment. The school caters both to practising managers and individuals without prior business qualifications.

The Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) rated ECU’s MBA as one of the best in the country in its 2011 five star MBA Assessment. ECU was one of only nine universities in Australia to receive a five star rating. 

The package also includes studying in a state with the country's lowest rates of employment, proximity to the cities of South East Asia and living in a warm climate that's perfect to enjoy the natural surroundings. 

Who is an ideal candidate for the Edith Cowan MBA?
The MBA course is available to applicants with a Bachelors degree from a recognised tertiary institution and a minimum of two years’ appropriate post-graduation professional work experience or people with at least five years’ appropriate professional work experience. Entry requirements can also be found at www.reachyourpotential.com.au

An MBA is a qualification appropriate for people who are looking to formalise their experience through a university education, or are looking for career advancement in more senior positions. The opportunities are boundless and much depends on individual career plans and aspirations. We have MBA specialisations, for example in, Project Management, Marketing, Human Resource Management and other areas, which can help provide more focused instruction and training within a generalist qualification such as an MBA.

Tell us something about living in Perth that we might not know
I can tell you several:
• Western Australia (WA) is the largest state in Australia, accounting for approximately one third of the Australian continent.

• The state of Western Australia is Australia’s face on the Indian Ocean. Its capital Perth is closer to Singapore and Jakarta than it is to Canberra.

• The majority of people live in and around Perth.

• Perth is situated between the Darling Ranges and the Indian Ocean, and along the banks of the Swan River, 12 kilometres from the ocean.

• To the west of the city is King’s Park, which has over 400 hectares of natural Australian bushland overlooking the city centre and the Swan River.

• Perth averages 118 clear days per year with monthly maximum temperatures ranging from 17ºC in July to 30ºC in February. Even in the coldest months, minimum temperatures rarely fall below 5ºC.

• WA offers more sunshine than any other capital city in Australia (averaging eight hours per day) and offers a truly authentic Australian experience with a mild Mediterranean climate, spotless blue skies and brilliant beaches.

• The warm sunny climate is also perfect for sporting and leisure activities – everything from beach volleyball to snorkelling through to whale watching and abseiling.

• As well as being a friendly and safe city, Perth offers all the cosmopolitan attractions of an international city. The city boasts hundreds of restaurants and cafes, cinemas, nightclubs, and music venues, as well as great shopping.

• Perth is a relaxed, beautiful city with a standard of living that is amongst the highest in Australia and the world!

• Perth has been rated the fifth most liveable city in the world!
* *Economist Intelligence Unit, 2009 Liveability Survey

• The fastest growing industry in WA is tourism, with visitors from the UK, USA, Singapore and Japan making up the majority (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

• Agriculture is one of WA’s major export industries. Wheat, wool, beef and lamb are its main products.

• WA fisheries are major world suppliers of lobsters, prawns and pearls.

• With more than 270 operating mines, WA is a leading supplier of many commodities including alumina, diamonds, iron ore and mineral sands. The State also produces 70% of Australia’s gold and significant exports of salt, nickel, tantalum and numerous other metals.

* Western Australia is a prosperous state, the current (July, 2012) unemployment rate is the lowest in the country: only 3.5% (the national average is 5.2%)

What do you think are the best things about studying an MBA at Edith Cowan University?
Edith Cowan University has campuses in Joondalup, Mount Lawley and Bunbury, each offering a modern, vibrant location for study and learning. Our campuses feature up-to-date facilities including wireless internet, 24-hour access to computer labs, libraries with open study spaces available outside office hours and a safe environment for you to study in.

Most postgraduate business units are delivered at our purpose built facilities on the Mount Lawley campus. Post Graduate School of Business (PGSB) students have 24/7 access to our postgraduate e-lab and lounge. As well as this many of the courses and units are also available online.

PGSB prides itself on fostering a supportive learning environment. Our academic staff are approachable and dedicated individuals, focused on helping students reach their full potential. We have a team of Student Information Officers who are readily available to assist students with general support requirements. Their services include identifying and assisting students who require access to academic support, provision of course information and advice, assessment of prior learning and advanced standing.

Our MBA can be tailored to meet personal and/or career development needs. The course covers key business principles, with the option to specialise in subjects of particular interest or career relevance. Students will also gain valuable insights from public and private sector guest speakers who regularly contribute to the teaching of individual units. Studying an MBA is a journey of personal and professional development intended to develop and/or enhance existing communication, leadership, interpersonal and critical thinking skills, the ECU MBA aims to propel careers to the next level.

What types of jobs do graduates go on to?
Our students come from diverse backgrounds and careers. Our graduates are equally diverse, some chose to pursue jobs in Australia in their previous or new fields, and others move on to international placements and assignments.

We work alongside industry, balancing theory and practice to help equip students with the skills they need to advance their career. We aim to provide students with greater access to lecturers and the full support of our friendly staff. By engaging industry bodies, individual, community and government organisations we ensure our courses remain fully up-to-date to equip students with the skills they need to progress their career. Relevance, support, accessibility and engagement are four principles that underpin everything we do.

You recently became director of MBA and postgraduate studies, what changes are you looking to make to the MBA programme?
Since taking over the role in January 2012 I have conducted a review of our MBA and am working towards some very exciting changes to program content and delivery. The changes in the landscape of tertiary education in Australia introduced in 2011 through the new Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) provided a golden opportunity to move our MBA to a new level of success. We have consulted widely with industry partners, future employers of our graduates and our students on the proposed changes; you will hear more about the changes to our MBA in the coming months.

Any tips on how an applicant can impress the admissions team during the application process?
It is extremely important that candidates provide complete applications, including all the necessary certificates, documents and attachments. Any omissions can delay the assessment process. Our friendly staff are always available to assist with admissions queries.

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